The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) removed thousands of records from its website that provided the public with information related to organizations regulated by the Animal Welfare Act. This record database from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has been used by journalists and animal welfare groups to expose horrific conditions for animals kept by puppy and kitten mills, test lab animals used for experiments, zoo and circus animals, and many others.

The USDA issued a statement with their reasons for removing the information which helped hold organizations that used animals accountable. They said, “Based on our commitment to being transparent, remaining responsive to our stakeholders’ informational needs, and maintaining the privacy rights of individuals, APHIS is implementing actions to remove documents it posts on APHIS’ website involving the Horse Protection Act (HPA) and the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) that contain personal information.”

The “privacy rights” and “personal information” they are talking about cover the names and locations of organizations that are regulated by the Animal Welfare Act, which animal welfare groups previously had access to. Concerned groups were able to spread this information to consumers who could either avoid businesses with serious violations or contact them with concerns. Now the USDA says this information will only be available through a Freedom of Information Act request, which could take years to get through.

Information from the USDA’s records has been used by lawmakers to create legislation that monitors government-funded test labs. This information is often heavily redacted anyway, so removing the information entirely makes it even more of a challenge to create effective laws that govern these labs. Without the necessary information readily available, it will be difficult for the public to know which organizations have violated laws and regulations.

The Beagle Freedom Project, a group that works to save test Beagles from laboratories and find them homes, said, “This move makes it IMPOSSIBLE to find out where animals are located, their treatment and any violations, essentially giving carte blanche to anyone to hide animal violations, and violate animal welfare laws, among other things. Because this information will now be hidden, it also makes it impossible for us to take action against facilities abusing animals, or even reach out to facilities using animals to offer assistance in placing beagles in loving homes.”

The database and groups that spread information obtained from those records provided a level of transparency to the public that allowed them to make informed decisions about the businesses they supported. Now, people are left in the dark when it comes to violations of the Animal Welfare Act. Enforcement of animal protection laws, the creation of new laws, and the ability to hold organizations that use animals accountable are all more difficult for the lack of transparency.

It’s currently unclear if newly hired Trump administration officials are behind the decision to remove the records. A representative from the USDA declined to say whether the removal of the database is permanent or temporary. But no matter which side of the aisle you are on, this issue is important if you are concerned about the welfare of animals and the transparency of your government.

If we work together, we can make sure the USDA brings transparency back to records of abusers and violators of animal welfare. Are you going to contact your congress people and sign the petitions? Do you think the USDA should restore its database immediately? Let us know in the comments below!